In November 2009, the City Council adopted an ordinance that modified the regulations pertaining to restaurants with alcohol sales, taverns (i.e., bars, lounges, pubs, etc.) and nightclubs. This ordinance addressed recognized deficiencies in the regulatory scheme for these facilities.

The following is a synopsis of the ordinance:

Creates clear and concise definitions that reflect current practices

Makes the process more transparent and requires additional public participation and outreach

Allows all legally established businesses to continue to operate subject to compliance with the conditions that were placed on the particular establishment at the time of their approval

Treats all similar uses the same by zone district

Permits taverns in zone districts that have historically prohibited said use

Allows establishments to stay open later (until 4:00 am in parts of downtown)

(Note that operators seeking to stay open later must apply for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) even though they may already have one for the new regulations to apply to their establishment. For an establishment that already serves alcohol and simply seeks to extend their hours of operation, the fees are reduced to approximately $3,817.00)